Parador Fuente De

Hotel Rio Deva

Spain - Cantabria - Fuente De

This parador, sheltering under the Picos de Europa,
is the terminus for a mountain cable car

This modern mountain refuge is located in the foothills of the Picos
de Europa and looking out at the fertile Liebana valley. It is surrounded
by woodlands and hillsides in a region of small hamlets.

The building is at the bottom of the cable car which travels
up to the Aliva viewpoint. Look down into the valley and see the Parador of Fuente De in the middle.
The classical mountain style decoration of warm wood and leather furniture
recreate the so appreciated warmth of home.

Taste the traditional Cantabrian cuisine in the hotel restaurant such
as:"Cocido lebaniego" which is a local stew of the Liebana valley;"Ensalada de gallo de corral" which is a chicken salad made with a
free range cockerel;
"Solomillo al queso de Tresviso", a sirloin steak with Tresviso cheese;
"Lomos de venado con salsa de arándanos" being venison with
blueberry sauce;

The restaurant has a special gluten free menu,.

If you want to make a cultural visit to the Cantabrian villages of this
region, start off in the monastery of Santo Toribio de Liebana, followed
by the church of Santa Maria and to the Infantado Tower in Potes.
Other interesting religious buildings are the monastery of Piasca and the pre-Roman church
of Lebena.

In Autumn you will be able to attend the festivals of Potes, the Cross,
the Cattle fair, or the Orujo (liqueur) Fair.

On July the 2nd, you have La Santuca and you can see the pilgrimage
there.

Go walking, take a mountain bike, horse, 4 wheel drive vehicle or even go hang gliding to explore and enjoy
the Picos de Europa (”Peaks of Europe”) mountains.

We recommend you to follow by foot the Cares route, going from Poncebos
to Cain or take the cable car up to the Aliva viewpoint where
you can enjoy an indescribable view of the Peaks
.

A warning on the hiking by a previous guest:-
"There are poles behind door to room. If you are going to the top in the cable car TAKE them. Also water, snack, etc. We ended up walking from the top to Espinima — 6 hours with none of these. We did not realize how long or dangerous the last part was — 90 degrees down and gravel paths. I had a bad fall and there was no one out there to help had we needed it. Walk to the Refugio and back — a better bet. You’d think we would have known better but the beautiful day and fabulous surroundings tricked us."

This Parador has fifty two twin bedded rooms, eighteen rooms with a double bed, six single rooms and one easy access room.

All the rooms have a private bathroom, a telephone, TV canal plus, safe and mini bar.

There is air conditioning and central heating, currency exchange, lift, parking facilities (without security and limited places), satellite television, garden, piped music, gift shop, free wireless internet, restaurant and
bar. Facilities are available to hold small conferences. The Parador Fuente De also has children's playground and garage.

Distance from the nearest airport is approximately 130 kms, train station is 130 kms away and the nearest port is 130 kms away.

Stayed only 1 night but wish we would have had time for more. Excellent facilities and wonderful view out our back enclosed porch. Great breakfast too.

Comment posted by Uwe2012-10-22 08:09:48

I stayed for 3 nights mid-September. And it will have been my last stay at a parador. (I tried several other paradores over several years.) The room was at the level of the street so that all cars going to/coming from the parking of the cable car blew their exhausts into the window and all pedestrians looked right in my room and on my bed. As the hotel was pretty empty this was certainly not necessary.
Furthermore, the 'exceptional' location doesn't leave you with any choice for dinner if you don't want to drive to the next village. So I opted for half-board, expecting a nice choice of some local dishes and, certainly at this time of the year, venison. ... But ended up with a choice between three boring meat dishes (chicken, beef and veal) and two seafish dishes (from the deep-freezer. All three dishes I had were of mediocre quality and heavily over-priced. Service was worse than in a 1000-bed all-in hotel on the islands: Fixed times, all in a rush.
In sum, the concept of the paradores doesn't pay anymore. They are not up to modern standards in terms of service and location alone doesn't do the trick. What a shame and waste of a great opportunity!